Door check and closer



.o. J. HAWKS 2,707,796

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Filed Sept. 1, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR was,M

M %vz; M

ATTORNEY O. J. HAWKS 7 DOOR CHECK AND CLOS ER May 10, 1955 6Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIII'IIIII II Elli!!! 1! Lil.

IIIIIIIIII'IIIII I .411. l Ilfififfd i 1/ III Filed Sept. 1, 1.949

ATTORNEY May 10, 1955 o. J. HAWKS DOOR cmacx AND CLOSER 6 Sheets-SheetFiled Sept, 1, 1949 w by ///A #1 A'iTORNEY y 0, 1955 o. J. HAWKS2,707,796

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Filed Septr l, 19 49 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A INVENTORM y 1955 o. J. HAWKS 2,707,796

' DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Filed Sept. 1, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 UnitedStates Patent i 1 2,707,796 DGQR CHECK AND CLOSER ()tis J. Hawks,Portsmouth, Va. Application September 1, 1949, Serial No. 113,624 37Claims. (Cl. 16-52) This invention relates to a door check and closerwhich is designed and constructed in such manner that it may beinterposed between a door and a door casing to hold the door in itsclosed position and to return the door to closed position at a regulatedrate after it has been opened and released. The invention relates moreparticularly to a door check and closer which comprises a clock-typecoiled spring which is loaded during the opening movement of theassociated door and which acts to return the door to closed position ata rate regulated by the fluid resistance encountered by a radial typepiston of an associated hydraulic checking mechanism. The door check andcloser is of the universal type, being constructed in such manner thatit may be employed to close a door which is hinged to either the righthand side or the left hand side of a door casing without requiring thedoor closer to be disassembled and certain of the component partsrearranged, for example, the spring elements of the closer arm.

Each of the several universal door closers heretofore known, hasincluded a helical type spring arranged to be wound or loaded, byanchoring either end and moving the other relatively thereto. In oneinstance, in the case of a spring disposed with its axis vertical, thespring wound by means which acts upon its upper end, and, in the secondinstance, causing it to be loaded by means which acts upon its lowerend. This arrangement provides a satisfactorily acting door closer ofthe universal type, but when the mass of spring metal which is necessaryto provide the desired spring action is arranged in the tubular form ofa helical member the resulting spring is too high to incorporate in adoor closer which has commercially acceptable dimensions and appearance.The same amount of spring metal may, however, be employed in the morecompactly arranged clock-type spring form of a much smaller overallsize.

It is one of the principal objects of this invention to provide acompact and entirely effective door closer of the universal type inwhich the operating mechanism comprises a clock-type spring.

The universal door closer heretofore most commonly used comprises acrank member arranged to drive the piston of a hydraulic checkingmechanism so that, irrespective of the direction of rotation imparted tothe crank by the closer arm from normal starting position, the piston iscaused to move in the same direction. Alternatively, such door closercomprises a half pinion and double rack arrangement for driving thepiston of the hydraulic checking mechanism wherein the half pinion movedby the closer arm swings from engagement with teeth provided in one sideof a rack actuated by the closer arm to engagement with teeth formed onthe other side of the rack to impart the same reciprocatory movemovementto the piston irrespective of the direction in which the pinion iscaused to move by the closer arm from normal starting position.

Each of such mechanisms as described immediately above necessarily has adead center at the termination of the piston movement in one direction,and as a movement of this extent is accomplished when the associateddoor is opened to as little as 80 it will be apparent that effectivechecking action by the hydraulic checking mechanism is absent for aconsiderable movement of the associated 2,707,795 Patented May 1'0, 19552 results in undesirable back-lash, or lost motion, when the closer isoperated, which back-lash or lost motion is greatly amplified by theleverage ratio which exists between the relatively short stroke of thepiston and the distance traversed by the edge of the door in moving fromits open to its closed position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic checkingmechanism for a universal door closer which employs a radial type pistonwhich precludes the disadvantages inherent in devices which operatethrough a dead center, and which obviates the possibility of lost motiondeveloping between the hydraulic checking mechanism and the door withwhich the closer is associated. The radial piston type hydraulicchecking mechanism offers the further advantage that the entire body offiuid in the mechanism is employed for checking action. In thereciprocatory piston type mechanism a large portion of the fluid presentmerely serves to fill up void space in the piston chambers and is notmetered through control apertures during the door closing control actionof the closer. Accordingly, the practical adaptation of the radial typepiston mechanism to a universal acting clocktype spring effects a savingin the fluid required, and without increased cost makes it practical touse more expensive long lasting fiuids which have improved operatingcharacteristics such as constant viscosity over a wide temperaturerange, high volitization temperature, and high surface tension.Accordingly, another object of the invention is to utilize a radial typepiston in a hydraulic checking mechanism in conjunction with a universaiclock-type spring mechanism to furnish an efiicient, compact andattractive universal door closer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a radial piston typechecking mechanism embodying a general speed control and a latch boltspeed control, the latch bolt speed control being designed andconstructed to effect a reversal of the direction in which hydraulicresistance is encountered by the radial piston of the hydraulic checkingmechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closer arm assemblyfor a door closer embodying a radial piston type hydraulic checkingmechanism which readily permits the closer arm to be readjusted, and thepiston repositioned when the hand of the closer is reversed.

A further feature of the invention locates the door closer speedcontrols and adjustments in a position in which they may readily beadjusted when the door closer is operatively assembled with a door anddoor casing in normal overhead position. Another feature of theinvention is directed to obtaining a uniform rate of movement of theedge of the door with which the closer is associated from the moment theclosing movement begins until the latch bolt speed control mechanismbecomes operative. A further feature provides improved means for ventingair which may be entrapped in the fiuid pressure chamber of thehydraulic checking mechanism in which the radial piston is supported toinsure an immediate and smooth response from the hydraulic checkingmechanism of the closer when the door is released for closing movement.A further object of the invention is to provide an improved type generalspeed control valve which may be used with particular advantage inconjunction with a radial piston type hydraulic checking mechanism. Afurther object of the invention is to provide a means of adjusting theinitial resistance of a clock-type closer spring during assembly of thecloser, which nevertheless permits a full range of adjustments to bemade externally after the closer has been assembled. Another object isto provide an improved linkage for connecting the door closer to thedoor casing in which a spring-like section of the linkage serves as africtionless pivot between the linkage and the fixed attachment to thedoor casing, and serves to absorb shocks transmitted to the closerassembly during certain phases of the closing movement of the door.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description there of which is made with reference toan embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will beunderstood, however, that the detailed description made with referenceto the illustrated embodiment is for the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding of the invention and that the invention is not to beconstrued as limited to the described and illustrated details, asvarious changes and modifications thereof will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which the invention relates.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the door closer illustrating themanner in which the closer is operatively interposed between a door anda door casing, the lower portion of the door closer housing being cutaway to reveal the lower portion of the closer body and the location ofthe manually operated speed controls and adjustment mechanism;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View or" the door closer further illustratingthe location of the speed controls and adjustments on the body portionof the door closer, and the closer arm linkage;

Figure 3 is a perspective illustration of the door closer supports;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional. view along the vertical axis of thedoor closer illustrating in detail the spring mechanism, the hydraulicchecking mechanism, the spring winding mechanism and the closer armassembly;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the hydraulic checkingmechanism along the line .5--5 of Figure 4 showing the relative positionof the piston and piston stop member when the closer is in a door closedcondition;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of the hydraulic checkingmechanism along the line 6-6 of Figure 4 which passes through thegeneral speed control valve which is situated in a passage passing fromone side to the other of the piston;

Figure 7 illustrates the relative position of the piston and the pistonstop member of the hydraulic checking mechanism when the closer is in afully opened position;

Figure 8 is a view along the line 55 of Figure 4 illustrating the pistontransiting the area in which th latch bolt speed control mechanismbecomes operative as the general speed control mechanism is cut outduring the closing movement of the associated door;

Figure 9 illustrates the action of the by-pass port check valves duringthat phase of the closing movement;

Figure 10 illustrates the action of the by-pass ports during the initialstage of the closing movement of the associated door;

Figure 11 is a partial sectional view of a portion 01" the hydraulicchecking mechanism illustrating the relative position between the pistonstop member, the lid of the fluid pressure chamber, the rotary latchspeed control valve and the venting channels formed in the under side ofthe lid;

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view through the piston stop membershowing the rotary alve therein positioned for operation of the closeron one hand;

Figure 13 is a horizontal section through the same piston stop member;

Figure 14 is a top plan view thereof:

Figure 15 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 12 butillustrating the rotary valve positioned for operation of the closer onthe reversed hand;

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 13 but showing the rotary valvepositioned for operation of the closer on the reversed hand;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the rotary valve which serves toreverse the hand of the closer, regulate the latch bolt speed of thecloser, and control the access of the operating fluid to the expansionchamber;

Figure 18 is an exploded view of the spring mechanism of the closer;

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the piston stop member, the radialpiston and the piston shaft of the hydraulic checking mechanism;

Figure 20 is a perspective view illustrating the position of theregisterin slots formed in the piston and piston stop member,respectively;

Figure Zl is a partial sectional view through the upper margin of thelower body portion of the closer illustrating the manner in which thelocking pin is received in the lower body portion and the adjustingring;

Figure 22 is a plan View of an alternative form of the lever of thecloser arm assembly;

Figure 23 is a detailed illustration of the closer arm hub assembly; and

Figure 24 illustrates an alternative construction for the byass portsillustrated in Figure 6.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 wherein the general appearance of the doorcloser and the manner in which it may be operatively associated with adoor 2% hinged to a door casing 21 is illustrated, it will be seen thatthe door closer comprises a generally cylindrical two piece housing, thelower portion 22 of which may be detached from the upper portion 23 toexpose the lower portion 24 of the closer body or base member to provideready access to the manually operated controls of the door closer whichare located on the bottom of the body portion of the closer as hereafterexplained in more detail.

Fixed to, or formed integrally with the body portion of the closer is aplate 25 provided with obliquely disposed lateral edges 26 and 27 whichare adapted to be received in a bracket which may be fixed to the doorwith which the closer is to be associated to support the closer on thedoor. The obliquely disposed lateral edges 26 and 27 of the plate areadapted to be received in the respective channels between thel..-members 28 and 2) fixed to, or formed integrally with, the doorbracket 30. The bracket 30 is also provided with a tab 31 disposednormally to the face of the bracket and adapted to underlie the bottomedge 32 of the plate 25 when the plate is positioned on the bracket. Theplate is provided with a threaded opening 33 which is positioned toregister with the aperture 34' in the tab 31. A locking screw may beinserted into the aligned openings and tightened to draw the plate 25downwardly, the oblique lateral edges of the plate tightly engaging thechannels of the bracket to hold the door closer in a rigid, fixedrelationship with the bracket. This support construction considerablysimplifies assembling the door closer on the door as it is unnecessaryto support the weight of the entire closer while the bracket is beingfastened to the door.

The spring and hydraulic checking mechanisms of the door closer areactuated by, and subsequently control the closer arm 33 which issupported on the end of a rotatable shaft extending through the topportion of the door closer. The distal end of the closer arm isconnected with the casing arm 34 which at its other end is secured tothe door casing 21 so that relative movement between the door and thedoor casing causes the closer arm to be rotated, and the spring andhydraulic checking mechanisms of the door closer to be actuated thercbyas will be described hereinafter in detail.

Referring to Figure 4, it may be seen that the door closer comprises anupper annular body portion 35 which is enlarged in diameter toward itslower end at which l mechanism indicated generally at H. A radial typepiston 39 is rotatably supported within the fluid pressure chamber 38and rigidly aifixed to the piston shaft 40 which extends upwardlythrough the central aperture of the annular lid member 37 and the upperbody portion 35, and which is journaled for rotative movement in thespring loaded leather packing 41 and the needle bearing 42. It is thenormal practice to store assembled closers with their longitudinal axishorizontal and the packing 41 prevents fluid from leaking or creepingout along the shaft 40 when the closer thus stored is exposed toatmospheric changes which during reduced temperatures cause air to bedrawn into the expansion chamber along the shaft which air later expandsduring temperature increases and forces the fluid outwardly along theshaft. The upper notched end 40' of the piston shaft engages the hubassembly of the closer arm, described in more detail hereinafter,whereby rotary movement imparted to the closer arm 33 caused by openingmovement of the door with which the closer is associated is transmittedto the rotary shaft 40 and to the radial piston 39. The piston isthereupon moved into position in which the hydraulic checking mechanismwill be effective to regulate the rate at which the energy stored in thespring mechanism, indicated generally at S, by the opening movement ofthe closer arm will be applied to the closer arm to return the door toits closed position.

The spring mechanism S of the door closer comprises a coil or clock-typespring 43 which is supported within the outer spring casing 44,illustrated most clearly in Figures 4 and 18. A clock-type or coilspring, as used herein, refers to the type of spring which is formedfrom a length of spring metal with each of the lateral edges thereofthroughout its length disposed in the same plane and in spiral form. Theouter end 45 of the spring is fixed to a spring abutment, and it may,for example, be

passed through apertures provided in the side wall of the spring casing44 and crimped against the casing to securely anchor the end of thespring to the casing. A spring abutment which may be in the form of aninner spring casing 46 is positioned within the central opening of thecoiled spring 43 and provided with an aperture in the tubular portionthereof through which the inner end 47 of the spring is passed, theinner end 47 of the spring being splayed, or flared, or otherwisearranged, to prevent the end from Withdrawing from the aperture. Thecasing 46 is provided with an upstanding circular flange 48 at the lowerend of its tubular section and the spring thus assembled with the casingmembers is adapted to encircle the upper body portion 35 which isprovided with a circular shoulder 50 which engages the underside of thecircular flange 48 and supports the assembled spring and spring casings.

The spring mechanism is arranged so that the spring may be wound fromeither end and the closer adapted for universal action by providing thespring casing 44, to which the outer end of the spring is attached, withWinding catches 54 and 55 which are engaged by a winding memberconnected with the closer arm when the closer arm is moved in onedirection, and by providing winding catches 56 and 57 on the springcasing 46, to which the inner end of the spring is fixed, which areengaged by a winding member when the closer arm is causedto be moved inthe other direction by the opening movement of the door. As seen best inFigures 4 and 18, the winding catches 54, 55 are formed on the topsurface of the spring casing 44, and may be tabs which are punched outof the casing into an upright position. 'The winding catches 56 and 57,also seen best in Figures 4 and 18, may be punched out of thecylindrical wall of the spring casing 46 so as to be facing inwardlytowards one another from opposite points on the cylindrical walls.

A dog 58 is fixed to the closer arm 33 and extends downwardly to engagein the peripheral notches of the winding ratchet 59 which is freelysupported on and guided by the piston shaft 40. To the underside of theratchet 59 is fixed a pair of locking pins 60 which are arranged toextend downwardly into two diametrically opposite holes of the series ofholes arranged circumferentially on the hub portion of the winding arm61 which is also freely supported on and guided by the piston shaft 40.Thus arranged, rotary movement of the closer arm 33 will cause acorresponding rotation of the winding arm 61. The winding catches 54 and55 are disposed at different radial distances from the central axis ofthe outer spring casing 44, and the arms 62 and 63 of the winding arm 61are of correspondingly different lengths, so that the depending flanges64 and 65 on the respective arms will engage one of the winding catches54 or 55. The arm 61 is initially positioned so that the winding catches54 and 55 are both offset in a clockwise direction from the dependingflanges 64 and 65 whereupon clockwise movement of the winding arm 61will result immediately in engagement between the depending flanges andthe winding catches and the casing 44 caused to rotate in a clockwisedirection thereby winding the spring 43 from its outer end 45 which isfixed to the wall of the casing. It will be seen, however, thatcounter-clockwise movement of the closer arm causes counter-clockwisemovement of the winding arm 61, which moves the flanges 64 and 65 awayfrom the winding catches 54 and 55, respectively, and causes the flange64 to pass outwardly of the catch 55 and the flange 65 to pass inwardlyof the catch 54 if the movement is continued throughout more thanCounter-clockwise movement of the wind ing arm 61 would therefore beunimpeded until the arm had been rotated through approximately acomplete revolution at which point the depending flanges 64 and 65 wouldbe adjacent to and about to engage the winding catches radially disposedat distances corresponding to the length oft he respective arms 62 and63.

A second winding member 69 is supported on and guided by the pistonshaft 40 and arranged to engage the winding tabs 56 and 57 on the innerspring casing when the closer arm is caused to rotate in acounter-clockwise direction as a result of opening movement of theassociated door. The locking pins 60 are of suflicient length to extendthrough the winding arm 61 and to be received in the diametricallyspaced holes provided in the upper portion of the member 69. The windingmember 69 is provided with tabs 70 and 71 which extend radially from theouter vertical wall of the member and are positioned at differentdistances along the longitudinal axis of the member to correspond withthe longitudinal axial displacement of the winding tabs 56 and 57,respectively, on the inner spring casing. The winding member 69 isadapted to be positioned within the central aperture of the annularinner spring casing 46 with the winding catches 56 and 57 disposed in acounter-clockwise direction from the tabs 70 and 71, respectively. Thuspositioned, counter-clockwise rotation of the closer arm 33 will betransmitted to the winding member 69, and the tabs thereof willimmediately engage the winding catches of the inner spring casing 46 andcause the casing to move in a counter-clockwise direction drawing withit the inner end 47 of the spring 43 aflixed thereto. Clockwise movementof the closer arm 33, on the other hand, will move the tabs 70 and 71away from the immediately adjacent winding catches, and continuation ofthe clockwise movement will cause the tab 70 to pass above the windingcatch 57 and the tab 71 to pass beneath the winding catch 5 6, thusallowing the winding member '79 to move unobstructed throughoutapproximately a complete revolution which is considerably in excess ofthe arcuate movement of the closer arm required in normal operation ofthe door closer.

The circular flange portion 48 of the inner spring casing is providedwith a depending retaining lug 72 which is initially positioned in acounter-clockwise direction from the stop member 73 fixed to the lowerenlarged portion of the upper body portion 35 and positioned radially toengage the retaining lug 72 and prevent movement of the inner springcasing, and the inner end 47 of the spring, when the spring is beingwound from its outer end by clockwise movement of the closer arm 33.

There is also provided an arrangement for retaining the outer springcasing 44, and the outer end 45 of the spring, immovable while thespring is being wound from its inner end as a result ofcounter-clockwise movement of the closer arm which also provides a meansfor selectively adjusting the initial resistance offered by the springduring assembly of the closer. The arrangement is such that a full rangeof spring tensioning adjustments can later be made externally by meansof the winding ratchet 59 even though the retaining means is previouslyutilized during assembly of the closer to adjust the closer to a desiredinitial torque characteristic.

For this purpose the lower edge of the outer spring casing is providedwith retaining lugs 74 and 75 positioned at different radial distancesfrom the central axis of the casing. An adjusting ring 76 is supportedon a circular shoulder 77 formed on the upper section of the lower bodyportion 24 and provided with stops '78 and 79 which are positioned at aradial distance from the center of the ring which corresponds to thelocation of the retaining lugs 74 and 75, respectively. The ring 76 isinitially positioned so that the stops 78 and 79 are immediatelyadjacent and in a counter-clockwise direction from the retaining lugs onthe spring casing 44. Accordingly, the outer spring casing 44 is free tomove in a clockwise direction when clockwise rotation is imparted to thewinding arm 61 which in turn rotates the casing in the same direction;and the casing will be prevented from moving by the steps 78 and 79bearing against the retaining lugs 74 and 75, respectively, when thespring is wound from its inner end by counter-clockwise rotation of thewinding member 69 which in turn imparts the same rota tion to the innerspring casing 46 to which the inner end of the spring is affixed. Theouter casing 44 is free to rotate in a clockwise direction throughapproximately a full revolution as the retaining lug 74 will passinwardly of the stop 79 and the retaining lug 75 will pass outwardly ofthe stop 78 if the clockwise movement is continued through more than180.

The ring 76 is provided with a series of circumferential notches adaptedto receive a iocking plate 31 which at its lower end is arranged toengage a notch in the upper margin of the lower body portion 24, and tocarry a pin 82 as illustrated in Figure 18, which is received in anopening in the upper part of the lower body portion 24 whereby the ringmay be locked in a fixed relationship with the body portion of thecloser.

In assembling the closer the initial tension of the spring 4-3 mayrequire adjustment to obtain the desired initial torque characteristicdue to variations between difi'erent springs in the spiraling of thespring. To accomplish the desired adjustment the locking plate may beremoved and the ring rotated in a clockwise direction. This wit] causethe steps 78 and 79 of the ring to bear against the retaining lugs 74and 75, respectively, and impart clockwise movement to the outer springcasing 44 to accomplish the desired initial tensioning of the spring.The locking plate may then be reinserted in the closer body and in thenotch in the adjusting ring then closest to alignment with the lockingpin. The notches provided in the ring are angularly spaced to correspondwith the spacing of the circumferentially disposed holes in the hubportion of the winding arm 61. As the clockwise adjustment of the casing4-4 causes the winding catches 54 and 55 to move away from the normalposition in which they are immediately adjacent the depending flanges64- and 65, respectively, the arm 61 may be correctly repositioned tocorrespond to the adjusted setting draw the locking pins 60 from the hubportion of the winding arm and rotating the Winding arm clockwisesufficiently to move the hole beneath the locking pin 60 whichcorresponds with the notch in which the locking pin. 81 was previouslyset. The adjustment, which is made normally only by the manufacturerwhen assembling the closer, does not limit the range of adjustments ofthe spring tension which may be accomplished later by externaladjustment of the winding ratchet 59.

When the spring has been wound by movement of the closer arm in themanner described as a result of. opening movement or" the door withwhich the closer is associated and the door thereafter released, theenergy stored in the wound spring is exerted on the closer arm throughthe winding member which is responsive to the particular direction ofmovement of the closer arm, the Winding ratchet, and the closer arm dog.The rate of this closing movement is selectively regulated by the actionof the hy raulic checking mechanism indicated generally at H in Figure4.

The hydraulic mechanism comprises the radial piston 39 having a hubportion 85 which is substantially cylindrical in form and a wing portion86 which extends radially therefrom. The wing portion is rounded at itsouter edge to conform to the curvature of, and to closely engage, theinner wall of the circular fiuid pressure chamber 38 in which the pistonis rotatably supported. The under surface of the hub portion of thepiston is provided with a depending boss 83 in axial alignment with thepiston shaft 50 which boss is received in a recess formed in the innerbottom of the fluid pressure chamber to aid in guiding the rotarymovement of the piston within the fluid pressure chamber. The piston isrigidly fixed to the lower end of the piston shaft 40 which at its upperend is connected with the closer arm hub assembly to cause the piston tobe rotated in one direction during opening movement of the closer arm,and to permit the piston to regulate the rate of movement of the closerarm during closing movement as will be more fully described hereafter.

The hydraulic checking mechanism also comprises a piston stop member fitwhich serves with the radial piston to regulate the rate at which fluidcontained in the fluid pressure chamber is passed from one side of thepiston to the other side thereof as the piston is caused to rotatewithin the chamber which determines, in turn, the rate of closingmovement of the closer arm. As seen most clearly in Figure 12 the pistonstop member is provided with two transverse parallel passages 91 and 92,and a vertically disposed central aperture 93 which intersects thepassages 91 and 92. A rotatable valve 94 (Figure 17) provided with aunidirectional fluid fiow checking member 95 is positioned within theaperture 93 and serves to selectively determine the direction in whichtluid impelled by movement of the radial piston will be passed throughthe piston stop member or blocked thereby. The direction may be reversedby rotating the valve 94 through to the position indicated in Figure 15to reverse the direction in which the checking action of the member 95will be effective. The piston stop member 99 is positioned within thefluid pressure chamber so that one of the lateral surfaces 96 or 83 ofthe member abuts the adjoining lateral surface of the wing portion ofthe piston when the closer arm is disposed in one of its normal closedpositions. One of the normal closed positions of the closer arm isillustrated in Figures 1 and 2, wherein opening movement of the doorwith which the closer is associated will cause the closer arm and theradial piston to move in a clockwise direction. Except as indicatedotherwise, the following description will be made with respect to thearrangement of the closer components which adapt the closer foroperation on the hand on which opening movement of the associated doorwill cause clockwise movement of the closer arm.

The piston stop member may be provided with dowels 97 which are receivedin corresponding openings in the inside bottom of the pressure chamber38 and in the pressure chamber lid 37 to provide a simple and reliablemethod of retaining the piston stop member in a fixed position withinthe pressure chamber. The outer surface of the piston stop member iscontoured to closely engage the inner Wall of the circular pressurechamber 33, and the centrally facing surface of the stop member iscambered to engage the rounded hub portion 85 of the radial piston.

The hub portion of the piston is provided with a general speed controlfluid passage 98 along a diameter of the hub portion perpendicular tothe axis of the wing portion 86 of the piston extending therefrom. Anupwardly extending aperture 99 formed coaxially with the piston rod 40is provided in the bottom portion of the piston and opens into thecentral portion of the general speed control passage 98 (Figure 4). Thisaperture receives a plug or piston 100 which acts as a valve to regulatethe flow of fluid through the passage 8 from one side of the piston tothe other. The valve Hit) can be adjustably positioned to restrict thepassage 98 by adjustments of the general speed control operating member101 which comprises a stem which extends upwardly through the bottom ofthe lower body portion 24 into engagement with the undersurface of theplug or piston 100. The piston 100 is provided with a longitudinalpassage 84 which equalizes the hydraulic pressure on either side of thepiston and prevents a differential pressure from developing on eitherside thereof which would cause the piston to move from its selectedsetting.

The end of the stern engaging the undersurfaceof the plug is rounded orotherwise reduced in cross-section to minimize the friction between thetwo members and to obviate the possibility of the adjustable stem memberbeing dragged around and misadjusted as a result of the plug beingseized by and rotated with the piston during normal operation of thecloser. The essential factor, however, is the provision of theregulating member in two pieces (1G0, 101) so that the manipulated part(101) may be made readily accessible by being brought out through thelower body portion, with respect to which the piston that receives theother part (1%) moves relatively during normal operation of the closer.

A spring 102 is inserted between the upper end of the plug and the endof the aperture to cause the plug to follow the adjusting movements ofthe operating member 101 at all times.

Thus arranged, when the piston is caused to move from its initialposition indicated in solid lines in Figure in a clockwise direction asa result of opening movement of the door with which the closer isassociated moving the closer arm in clockwise direction, the fluid infront of the piston will be forced through the piston stop member,entering the passage 92a, dislodging the checking member 95 of the valve94-, and passing through the passage 91]) to the low pressure side ofthe piston (Figure 12). Transfer of the fluid through the stop memberand the rotary valve 9 therein will continue until the piston has movedto its fully open position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5 inwhich it is abutting the lateral face 83 of the piston stop member, oruntil the opening movement is terminated. As the spring unwinds toeffect closing movement of the door, the piston will be rotated incounterclockwise direction, and as the rotary valve 94 will block flowof fluid through the piston stop member in the direction the piston isnow moving, the fluid can be transferred from the high pressure side ofthe piston to the low pressure side thereof to permit further rotarymovement only through the general speed control passage 98 which isadjustably restricted by the valve member 100. Accordingly, the rate atwhich the door returns to its closed position may be regulatedthroughout the first phase of its closing movement, designated herein asthe general speed range by, appropriate adjustment of the valve 160.

it will be observed, however, that when the piston has rotated to itsfully open position in which it abuts the lateral face 83 of the pistonstop member (Figure 7) the one end of the passage 98 is blocked off bythe cambered face of the stop member and communication between the highpressure and the low pressure sides of the piston through the piston isblocked off. Piston release ports 104 and 105, provided in the piston tocommunicate between the general speed control fluid passage 98 on eitherside of the general speed control valve, respectively, and therespective lateral faces of the wing portion of the piston, serve topass the fluid from the high pressure to the low pressure side of thepiston during the interval when one end of the passage 98 is blocked inthe manner described. These release ports are shown most clearly inFigures 6, 7, 9 and 10. During the initial movement of the piston fromits wide open position, therefore, fluid will pass from the highpressure side of the piston into the open end of the passage 98, throughthe general speed control valve centrally disposed in the passage, andthrough the passage 104 to the low pressure side of the piston. Thepiston is thus permitted to move toward clo ed position at a rate whichis here again regulated by the general speed control valve disposed inthe passage 98. The fluid flow during this stage of the return movementis indicated by the arrows in Figure 10.

it will be seen, therefore, that the general speed control valve iseffective to regulate the closing movement of the door at a uniform ratethroughout the general speed range as the entire body of fluid passedfrom the high pressure side to the low pressure side of the pistonduring this period is metered by the single general speed control valve100.

The piston release port 105 is symmetrically arranged with the port 164and operates in a similar manner when the closer is set for operationfrom the reverse hand. Unidirectional fluid flow valves, such as thecheck valves 106 and 107, may be arranged in the wing portion terminalsof the ports 164 and 105, respectively, to block entry of fluid into theports when the respective terminals of the passages are communicatingwith the high pressure side of the piston. The necessity for this actionwill be apparent from an inspection of Figures 8 and 9 which illustratethe status of the various fluid passages as the piston moves past thepoint at which the general speed control passage 98 is blocked off bythe cambered face of the stop member and the latch bolt speed controlmechanism (described hereinafter) assumes control of the rate of closingmovement. .t this point a fluid passage to the low pressure side of thepiston is opened through the latch bolt speed control mechanism asindicated by the arrows in Figure 8. However, if the ball check 167 inport 105 were absent, the fluid would continue to fiow through port105', to passage 98, and through valve 1% to the low pressure side ofthe piston, and control of the rate of closing movement during the laststages thereof could not be obtained by the latch bolt speed controlmechanism alone. The ball checks serve to block off the flow of fluidthrough the piston as indicated in Figure 9 when the latch bolt speedcontrol mechanism becomes operative.

An alternative means of transferring fluid from the high pressure to thelow pressure side of the piston at a rate regulated by the general speedcontrol valve during the initial portion of the piston movement from itsfully open position is illustrated in Figure 24. An

elongated slot 108 is provided in the cambered face of the piston stopmember 90 in position to register with end of the passage 98 which iscovered by the cambered face as the piston approaches its fully openposition which is illustrated in solid lines in Figure 7. A port 109 isprovided in the stop member communicating with the slot 108 and with aregistering port 110 in the rotary valve 94. The port 110 communicateswith the passage 91 in the piston stop member which, in turn,

communicates to the low pressure side of the piston. The ends of thepassage 98 are enlarged to form a tapered aperture so that the passage98 will remain in communication with the slot 108 until the covered endof the passage 98 has rotated clear of the solid portion 111 of thepiston stop member. Both ends of the passage 98 are symmetricallyarranged with tapered apertures and the rotary valve 94 is provided withsymmetrically disposed passages llfi so that the arrangement describedis operable irrespective of the hand on which the closer is operated.

As the piston approaches its closed or initial position indicated insolid lines in Figure during the closing movement thereof, the end ofthe passage 98 on the high pressure side of the piston is blocked off bythe cambered face of the piston stop member 9t). This action also occursin the operation of the modification illustrated in Figure 24 in whichinstance the solid portion 111 of the piston stop member blocks off thepassage 98 as aforesaid. At this instant the latch bolt speed controlmechanism becomes operative to regulate the rate of closing movement ofthe door during the latter stages thereof (Figures 8 and 9). The latchbolt speed control mechanism comprises a slot 112 formed in the face ofthe cylindrical hub portion which slot is positioned to register with asimilarly shaped slot 113 provided in the cambered face of the pistonstop member (Figure A port 114 communicates between the slot 113 and thecentral aperture 93 of the piston stop member. As seen most clearly inFigure 17 the rotary unidirectional fluid flow valve 9-1 is providedwith a port 116 having terminals 116a and 116:; positioned so that theymay be moved into registration with the inner terminus of the port 114,a port 117 communicates between the port 116 and an arcuate slot 118which is positioned to register with the passage 91a in the piston stopmember as illustrated most clearly in Figure 12. Accordingly, as thepiston approaches its closed position and the general speed controlpassage 93 is blocked off, the slot 112 overlaps the slot 113 and thefluid on the high pressure side of the piston is passed through the port114, the ports 116, 11.7, the slot 118 and the passage 91a to the lowpressure side of the piston. The rate of fluid flow, and consequentlythe rate of movement of the piston and closer arm during this last stageof the closing movement, may be regulated by rotating the valve 94 andthereby varying the degree of registration between the mutually facingterminals of the port 116 in the valve and the port 114 in the pistonstop member.

The terminals of the port 116 are feathered to avoid an abrupt cut-offduring adjustment of the degree of registration with port 114, and toincrease the accuracy with which adjustment may be made by decreasingthe variation in registration obtained per degree of rotation of thevalve 94 as the valve is moved toward the cut-oil point. The cut-outportions 51. and 52 of the valve 94 which communicate with the passages91 and 92. respectively, of the piston stop member have sufficientarcuate dimensions to maintain communication with the passages 91 and 92throughout the full range of adjustments of the terminals 116a, 1161:with respect to port 114.

When it is desired to change the direction in which fluid resistance isoffered to rotation of the piston in order to change the hand of thecloser, the valve 94 is rotated through 180 to the position indicated inFigure 15. The rotation of the valve 94 to change the hand of thecloser, or to vary the latch bolt speed is accomplished by means of thelatch bolt speed control member 119, which comprises a stem extendingupwardly through an appropriately packed aperture in the bottom of thelower body portion 24 of the closer into a notched-out keyway formed inthe bottom of the body portion of the valve.

The valve 94 is provided with the symmetrically disposed passage 116 sothat the latch bolt speed control obtainable by varying the extent ofregistration of the passages 116 and 114 can be obtained when the handof the closer has been reversed by rotating the valve 94 throughout 180as previously described. It will be noted, therefore, that this singleconvenient control located on the bottom side of the closer is arrangedto perform the functions of controlling the latch bolt speed and ofreversing the direction in which fluid resistance is encountered by thepiston when it is desired to change the hand of operation of the closer.The remaining door closer control, the general speed control, issimilarly conveniently arranged adjacent the latch bolt speed andreversal control on the bottom side of the closer body in a positionfrom which all necessary adjustments can be accomplished easily when thecloser is supported in normal overhead position on the door. Thearrangement is such that suitable simplified instructions foradjustments may be fixed to the bottom side of the body closer asillustrated in Figure 2 so that they may be read without difliculty andthe appropriate adjustments made with ease and convenience. The lowersection of the closer housing 22 is readily detachable to expose thecontrols for adjustment and easily reassembled to prevent unauthorizedtampering with the controls.

Smooth uniform movement of the piston through the fluid pressure chamberis assured by providing an expansion chamber 120 defined between theenlarged lower portion of the upper body portion 35 and the pressurechamber lid 3'! which chamber is in constant communication with the lowpressure side of the piston during closing movement thereof. Airentrapped in the pressure chamber may escape to the expansion chamberand replacement fluid is supplied therefrom. Referring to Figure 11 itmay be seen that the pressure chamber lid 37 is provided with a circularaperture 121 into which the notched portion 122 of the rotaryunidirectional valve 94 extends. Two slots 123 and 124 are cut into theunder side of the pressure chamber lid to form channels between themutually facing surfaces of the piston stop member and the lid 37. Thesechannels communicate between the central aperture 121 and either side ofthe piston stop member, respectively. As the venting channels areprovided in the top of the fluid pressure chamber and extend linearly tothe expansion chamber complete venting of the fluid pressure chamber isassured. When the rotary valve 94 is positioned as indicated in Figures11, 12 and 13, which is the setting corresponding to the hand ofoperation when the opening movement of the closer arm and the piston isin clockwise direction, the low pressure side of the piston during theclosing movement thereof is in communication with the expansion chamberthrough the channel 124 and the portion of the central aperture 121 leftopen by the notched portion 122 of the valve 94. The solid portion ofthe valve 94 which extends into the aperture 121 of the lid is contouredto closely engage the walls of the aperture and to block flow of fluidfrom the channel 123 into the expansion chamber. It will be apparentfrom the construction illustrated in Figure 11 that reversal of thevalve 94 to alter the hand of the closer will also reverse the valvingaction of the notched portion and again place the low pressure side ofthe piston during closing movement thereof in communication with theexpansion chamber 120.

It should be noted that the construction of the valve 94 which enablesthe valve to perform this function does not alter or limit its efficacyas a means for reversing the direction of fluid resistance in changingthe hand of the closer, or in controlling the latch bolt speed byvarying the extent of registration of the ports 114 and 115.

It will be apparent that changing the hand of the closer to adapt it foruse with a door hinged on the hand which would cause counter-clockwiserotation of the closer arm upon opening movement of the door requiresshifting the initial, or door closed position, of the piston from thatillustrated in solid lines in Figure to the dotted line position thereinin which the piston abuts the lateral face 83 of the piston stop member.As the piston shaft 40 is limited to less than a full revolution by thepiston and the piston stop member, it is necessary when changing thehand of the closer to change the initial position of the closer arm withrespect to the face of the door to dispose the arm in a counterclockwisedirection from the perpendicular to the face of the door, as contrastedwith its clockwise disposition therefrom as, illustrated in Figure 2, aswell as rotating the unidirection fluid flow valve 94 throughout 180 toreverse the direction of resistance to fluid flow through piston stopmember 90 as previously described.

In keeping with the universal character of the closer re-positioning ofthe piston and the closer arm is accomplished without requiring the armto be removed from the closer by external adjustments of the closer armhub assembly illustrated in Figure 23. The hub assembly comprises a disc125 provided with a central aperture configured to receive the notchedend of the piston shaft 40 and to secure the disc against rotationrelative to the shaft. The disc is provided with a lug 126 on itsperiphery which extends into the slotted portion 127 formed in thecentral aperture of the hub portion of the closer arm into which thedisc is received, and which closely engages the disc along a portion ofits circumference. The lug 126 normally abuts one or the other of theshoulders 128 or 129 provided by the ends of the slot 127, and whenarranged in the solid line position illustrated in Figure 13 wherein thelug abuts the shoulder 128, closing movement of the closer in acounter-clockwise direction caused by the force applied to the closerarm through the pin 58 by the loaded spring mechanism is retardedaccording to the rate at which the piston with which the disc is rigidlyconnected, rotates in response to the particular force applied to thecloser arm by the spring mechanism. The disc is provided with a radiallydisposed aperture 130 in which a locking member or detent 131 ispositioned which is spring pressed outwardly by a light spring 132 intoa recess 117 provided in the wall of the central aperture formed in thehub portion of the closer arm. When the pin 53 has been disengaged thelocking member 131 is displaceable by hand pres sure and when it isdesired to change the hand of the closer it may be easily dislodged byrotating the closer arm 33 in clockwise direction until the piston abutsthe lateral face 83 of the piston stop member. Continuing the rotationof the closer arm after the disc which is rigidly connected with thepiston is thus stopped, displaces the locking member 131 from the recess132 and brings the lug 126 to bear against the shoulder 129 as indicatedin dotted lines in Figure 23. When the closer arm has been re-positionedas described, the locking member 131 will engage in the recess 133 withsufiicient firmness to cause the disc 125 to rotate along with thecloser arm during opening movement of the associated door as very littlefluid resistance is encountered by the piston during the openingmovement. It is apparent that the locking action between the disc andthe arm which may be overcome by hand pressure can be obtained invarious ways, for example, by supporting a friction disc, or otherfriction element, on the disc 125 which disc or element is arranged tobear against a suitable portion of the closer arm.

The casing arm 34 of the closer arm linkage is provided with a stiffhelical type spring section 135 aflixed to the boss 136 of the mountingplate 137 which spring section provides a frictionless pivotal meansabout which the arm oscillates during the opening and closing movementsof the door with which the door closer is associated. The spring iswound so that the adjacent coils are spaced apart a short distancerelative to the diameter of the wire from which the spring is wound.Accordingly, the spring is subject to slight compression and acts toabsorb shocks transmitted to the closer arm linkage when the door ismoving toward its closed position. This arrangement is particularlyeffective and necessary where the speed settings on the closer cause asharp change in the rate of closing movement of the associated door. Theslight spacing between the turns of the spring also increases itsflexibility and reduces the resistance to pivotal action which wouldexist in a conventional extension spring in which the adjacent turns arenormally in contact with one another. A similarly constructed springsection 116' may be provided towards the other end of the arm asillustrated in Figure 22.

The casing arm may also comprise the section 136 which telescopes withinthe section 137 which is provided with a threaded opening which receivesthe correspondingly screw threaded extension 133 of the section 136; theoverall length of the arm being adjustable by varying the extent towhich the section 138 is screwed into the section 137. The section 137is provided with a threaded boss 139 which is adapted to be screwed intothe outer end of the spring section 135, the inner faces of the turns ofthe coil functioning in the same manner as the lands of a conventionalthreaded opening. A plate 146 is pivoted to the distal end of thesection 136 and provided with a pin 141 (Figure 1) which extendsdownwardly into an aperture provided in the free end of the closer arm33 as illustrated most clearly in Figure 1. It may be seen from Figure 1that in order to juxtaposition the ends of the arms 33 and 34, it isnecessary to have the arm 34 inclined slightly downwardly. This downwarddisposition of the arm 34 is permitted by the coil spring 135, which, aspreviously mentioned, also acts as a pivot means and shock absorber. Inorder that the axis of the pin 141 be aligned with the axis of theaperture provided in the end of the arm 33, it is necessary that theplate 141) be turned slightly upwardly with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the arm 34. This, of course, is permitted by the pivotal supportof the plate 140 on the arm 34. A further means for obtaining the upwarddeflection of the end of the arm 34 so that the pin 141 will be properlyaligned with the aperture in the end of the arm 33 is shown in Figure22. In this latter construction, the spring 116' provided towards thedistal end of the arm 34 permits the end of the arm carrying the pin 141to be deflected upwardly sufficiently to permit alignment of the pinwith the aperture provided in the end of the arm 33. Both of thesearrangements permit pivotal action between the closer arm 33 and thecasing arm 34 and permit the pivotal connection between the arms to bereadily broken in the event it is desirable to readjust the length ofthe casing arm by screwing the section 136 further into or out of thesection 137. The adjustment selected is positively retained by insertingthe pin 141 into the aperture provided in the end of the closer armwhich re-establishes the pivotal connection between the arms and locksthe section 136 of the casing arm against further rotation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letter Patent is:

1. A door closer comprising in combination a coil spring, an abutmentfixed to the inner end of said spring and an abutment fixed to the outerend of the spring, and mechanism for acting upon and moving either ofsaid spring abutments along an arcuate path while maintaining the othersuch abutment stationary, to load the spring, said mechanism includingan arm assembly and a base member assembled for relative rotation abouta common axis one being adapted to be connected to a door and the otherto a door frame, said arm assembly comprises a rotatably supportedcloser arm, two winding members rigidly fixed thereto, one said windingmember arranged to act upon and move one of said spring abutments whenthe said arm is rotated in one direction, and the other said windingmember arranged to act upon and move said 15 other such abutment whenthe said arm is rotated in the other direction.

2. A door closer as claimed in claim 1 in which the said one abutment isprovided with winding catches spaced at different distances from saidcommon axis, the one side winding member comprises arms of differentlengths corresponding to the said different distance, respectively, toengage only one of the said catches, the other such abutment is providedwith radially extending winding catches spaced at different distancesalong the said common axis, and the other said winding member isprovided with protrusions at distances along said common axis,respectively, to engage only one of said radially extending windingcatches.

3. A door closer embodying a spring member, a hychamber, a piston stopmember fixedly positioned within the said chamber in operableassociation with said piston, said stop member having a cambered faceengaging said piston, means inter-connecting the said piston with thesaid spring member to cause rotary movement of said piston as saidspring is loaded by opening movement of the associated door or as thespring unloads to close the associated door, said stop member beingprovided with fluid passages from either side thereof to an intermediateaperture therein, a fluid passage extending from said cambered face ofsaid stop member to said aperture, a fluid passage extending from oneside to the other side of said piston, a fluid flow adjusting valve insaid passage in said piston for governing the general speed of closing,a slot in the face of said piston which engages said cambered facepositioned to register with a fluid passage extending from the face ofsaid piston which engages said cambered face to govern the latch-boltspeed of closing, a rotary check valve positioned within the saidaperture to govern the passage of all fluid passing through said stopmemher, and means for rotating said valve within the aperture toselectively arrange said valve to pass fluid freely from the highpressure side to low pressure side of piston as the piston is caused torotate by the spring loading movement of the associated door, and toblock the flow of fluid from the high pressure side to low pressure sideof piston as the piston is caused to rotate in the opposite direction byunloading of the spring, when said spring is loaded selectively fromeither one of two directions.

4. A door closer and check comprising a hydraulic mechanism, a springmember, and means operatively connecting said check mechanism and saidspring member, said hydraulic check mechanism including a fluid pressurechamber, a wing piston rotatably supported therein, a piston stop memberpositioned in said chamber, a face of said stop member operativelyengaging a face of said piston, fluid passages from either side of saidpiston stop member to an intermediate aperture therein, a rotary checkvalve positioned in said aperture, said piston being provided with apassage communicating from one side thereof to the other to pass fluidthrough said piston when said piston is caused to move by the unloadingof said spring member, an adjustable valve positioned within saidpassage for regulating the rate of fluid transfer from one side of thepiston to the other, the ends of said passage being arranged on saidpiston so as to be closed off, respectively, by the said stop memberface as the piston approaches the limit of its movement in therespective direction, a latch bolt speed control slot provided in saidpiston face, a cooperating slot on said stop memher face arranged toregister in part with said first named slot as the piston approaches thelimits of its movement and said passage is closed off as aforesaid, aport in said stop member communicating between said piston stop memberslot and the said aperture, and a further passageway in the said rotaryvalve located at one end for registration with said port and at itsother end to communicate with the one of fluid passages in the stopmember between the said aperture and the low pressure side of saidpiston, whereby the latch bolt speed of the door during closing movementmay be regulated by adjustment of said rotary valve to vary the extentof registration between the said further passageway and the said port,and the hand of operation of the closer reversed by turning the saidrotary valve to a greater degree than required to effect full range ofadjustment of the latch bolt speed.

5. A door closer as claimed in claim 4 in which said adjustable valvefor regulating the rate of fluid transfer from one side of the piston tothe other comprises, a plug supported within an aperture in said pistonformed concentrically with the axis of rotation of the said piston, saidpassage from one side of the piston to the other being formed in part bysaid aperture, and means extending through said pressure chamberadjustable axially with respect to the said plug, said means having aleading edge of reduced cross-section bearing against the lower portionof said plug, whereby the plug may be moved axially to restrictadjustably fluid flow through said piston passage, and the plugpermitted to rotate with said piston without disturbing the setting ofsaid adjustable means.

6. A door closer as claimed in claim 5 in which the walls of saidpressure chamber comprise the lowermost section of said closer, saidmeans for adjusting said rotary valve comprises a stem extendingupwardly through the bottom of said chamber to engage said rotary valve,and said plug adjusting means comprises a second stem extending upwardlythrough the bottom of said pressure chamber to engage the said plug asaforesaid, whereby both the general speed and the latch bolt speed ofthe closer may be adjusted conveniently when the closer is supported inan overhead position.

7. A door closer as claimed in claim 4 wherein the said pressure chamberis cylindrical in form, the said piston comprises a rounded hub portionand a wing portion extending radially from one section thereofto closelyengage the cylindrical wall of said chamber, the remaining section ofthe hub portion being the face of the piston which is operativelyengaged by said stop member face, said latter face being formedcomplementary to said rounded hub portion for close engagementtherewith.

8. A door closer comprising a fluid pressure chamber, an expansionchamber, a common wall forming the lid of the said pressure chamber andthe bottom of the said expansion chamber, a piston stop member fixedlysecured within the said pressure chamber, the upper surface of said stopmember closely engaging the under surface of said common wall, a radialpiston rotatably supported in said pressure chamber, said stop memberbeing provided with passages from either side thereof to an intermediateaperture, a rotary unidirectional fluid flow valve positioned in saidaperture to permit transit of fluid through said member from the highpressure side to the low pressure side of the piston during pistonrotation in one direction and blocking fiuid flow through said stopmember during piston rotation in the other direction, a second apertureprovided in the said common wall to register with said intermediateaperture, slots provided in the undersurface of said common wall to formtwo channels between the mutually engaging faces of said common wall andsaid stop member, each of said channels communicating with said secondaperture and, respectively,

with the pressure chamber on either side of said stop member, saidrotary valve having an upper solid portion extending into said secondaperture positioned to block off said second aperture from the channelcommunicating with the high pressure side of said piston during thepiston rotation in said other direction, and an upper notched portionpermitting communication through the other of said channels to saidsecond aperture and expansion chamber from the low pressure side of saidpiston during said last named rotation of the said piston.

9. A door closer as claimed in claim 4 which com prises an expansionchamber, a common wall forming the lid of said pressure chamber and thebottom of said expansion chamber, the upper surface of said stop memberclosely engaging the under surface of said common wall, a secondaperture provided in the said common wall to register with saidintermediate aperture, slots provided in the under surface of saidcommon wall to form two channels between the mutually engaging surfaceof said stop member and common wall, each of said channels communicatingwith said second aperture and, respectively, with the pressure chamberon either side of said stop member, said rotary valve having an uppersolid portion extending into said second aperture positioned to blockoff said second aperture from the channel communicating with the highpressure side of said piston as said piston is caused to move in thesaid opposite direction by the unloading of said spring member, and anupper notched portion permitting communication through the other of saidchannels to said expansion chamber from the low pressure side of saidpiston during said last named movement of the said piston.

10. A door closer comprising a body, a shaft rotatably supported withinthe body, a radial piston affixed to one end of the said shaft, and acloser arm assembly aflixed to the other end thereof, a fluid pressurechamber formed in a portion of the said body, said piston beingpositioned within said chamber, a clock type spring, winding mechanismincluding the closer arm of said closer arm assembly for moving eitherend of said spring, means for holding the inner end of the springagainst movement when the said spring is wound from its outer end byrotation of the arm in one direction, means for holding the outer end ofspring against movement when the spring is wound from its inner end byrotation of the arm in the other direction, a piston stop member fixedwithin the chamber, a unidirectional fluid flow control valve within anaperture provided in said stop member that communicates with passagesfor conducting fluid from one side of said stop member to the other sidethereof, said valve being rotatably positionable in one of two settingscorresponding, respectively, with the direction from which said springis to be wound to permit in either of said settings fluid in the saidchamber to pass through said stop member freely as movement of the saidarm causes the spring to be wound, and to block fluid flow through saidstop member as the spring unwinds, said closer arm assembly comprisingmeans for operably securing the said closer arm in one of two positionscorresponding, respectively, with the setting of said valve, said meanscomprising a disc member secured to said rotatable shaft, a hub portionon said arm having a central aperture adapted to receive said disc inclose engagement, said hub portion being provided with two spaced stopmembers, means on said disc arranged to engage said stop members tolimit the relative rotary movement between said disc and said hubportion and to transmit rotary movement imparted to the hub portion tosaid disc member, a pressure displaceable spring pressed locking memberpositioned in a radially extending aperture in said disc member tonormally protrude from the periphery of said disc into one of twodepressions provided in the closely engaged face of said hubportion,.said depressions being positioned respectively to align withsaid locking member when said lug bears against one or the other of saidstop members, whereby the hand of the closer may be reversed by changingthe'said valve and closer arm, respectively, from one of theircorresponding positions to the other.

11. A door closer of the type which includes a hydraulic mechanism forregulating the rate at which energy stored in a spring member associatedwith the closer is released, said closer comprising a closerarm'assembly, a fluid pressure chamber, a radial piston rotatablysupported within said chamber, a rotatable shaft connecting said pistonwith said closer arm assembly, a piston stop member fixed within saidchamber, valve means associated with said stop member for reversing thedirection of hydraulic resistance to the said pistonduring its rotarymovement between the limits defined by said stop member, said closer armassembly comprising a disc member secured to said rotatabie shaft, a hubportion on said arm having a central aperture adapted to receive saiddisc in close engagement, said hub portion being provided with twospaced stop members, means on said disc ar ranged to engage said stopmembers to limit the relative rotary movement between said disc and saidhub portion and to transmit rotary movement imparted to the hub portionto said disc member, a pressure displaceable spring pressed lockingmember positioned in a radially extending aperture provided in said discmember to normally protrude from the periphery of said disc into one oftwo depressions provided in the closely engaged face of said hubportion, said depressions being positioned, respectively, to align withsaid locking member when said lug bears against one or the other of saidstop members, whereby the initial position of said piston with respectto the said piston stop member and the position of said arm with respectto the said piston may be changed to correspond with a reversed settingof said valve to reverse the hand of the closer by causing said closerarm lug to rotate from contact with one of said stop members intocontact with the other of said stop members.

12. In a door closer of the type having a hydraulic mechanism forregulating the rate of return movement of a spring driven closer arm,said mechanism including a radial piston rotatably supported within afluid pressure chamber and provided with a general speed control valvepositioned within a passage in the piston for passing fluid from thehigh pressure side to the low pressure side of the piston, said passagebeing positioned therein to be restricted at one end by a piston stopmember fixed within the said chamber as the piston approaches either ofits extreme positions in which it bears, respectively, against eitherside of the stop member so as to permit an associated latch bolt speedcontrol mechanism to regulate the latter portion of return movement ofthe piston; a means separate from said latch bolt speed controlmechanism and operable, when the said fluid passage through the pistonis blocked off as aforesaid during the initial portion of the returnmovement of the piston,- to pass fluid from the high pressure side ofthe piston to the low pressure side thereof through said general speedcontrol valve, said means comprising a port communicating at one endwith said fluid passage in the said piston between the restrictedterminus thereof and the said general speed control valve, andcommunicating at the other end with the low pressure side of saidpiston, whereby the general speed control mechanism alone regulates theclosing speed from the instant the closing movement starts until thelatch-bolt speed control mechanism takes over.

13. In a door closer of the type having a hydraulic mechanism forregulating the rate of return movement of a spring driven closer arm,said mechanism including a radial piston rotatably supported within afluid pressure chamber and provided with a general speed control valvepositioned within a passage in the piston for passing fluid from thehigh pressure side to the low pressure side of the piston, said passagebeing positioned therein to be blocked off at one end by a piston stopmember fixed within the said chamber as the piston approaches either ofits extreme positions in which it bears, respectively, against eitherside of the stop member so as to permit an associated latch bolt speedcontrol mechanism to regulate the latter portion of return movement ofthe piston; a means separate from said latch-bolt speed controlmechanism and operable, when the said fluid passage through the pistonis blocked off as aforesaid during the initial portion of the returnmovement of the piston, to pass fluid from the high pressure side of thepiston to the low pressure side thereof through said general speedcontrol valve, said means comprising two ports provided in said pistoncommunicating at one end with said fluid passage on either side of saidgeneral speed control valve, respectively, and at their other ends withthe spaces between either side of the piston and the stop member,respectively, whereby the general speed mechanism alone regulates theclosing speed from the instant the closing movement starts until thelatch-bolt speed control mechanism takes over.

14. In a door closer of the type having a hydraulic mechanism forregulating the rate of return movement of a spring driven closer arm,said mechanism including a radial piston rotatably supported within afluid pressure chamber and provided with a general speed control valvepositioned within a passage in the piston for passing fiuid from thehigh pressure side to the low pressure side of the piston, said passagebeing positioned therein to be blocked off at one end by a piston stopmember fixed within the said chamber as the piston approaches either ofits extreme positions in which it bears, respectively, against eitherside of the stop member so as to permit an associated latch bolt speedcontrol mechanism to regulate the latter portion of return movement ofthe piston; a means separate from said latch-bolt speed controlmechanism and operable when the said fluid passage through the piston isblocked off as aforesaid during the initial portion of the returnmovement of the piston to pass fluid from the high pressure side of thepiston to the low pressure side thereof through said general speedcontrol valve, said means comprising a slot provided in said piston stopmember positioned to register with the end of said fluid passage blockedoff by said piston stop member, and a passage provided in said stopmember communicating between said slot and the low pressure side of thesaid stop member whereby the general speed control mechanism aloneregulates the closing speed from the instant the closing movement startsuntil the latch-bolt speed control mechanism takes over.

15. A door closer as claimed in claim 14 in which said passage providedin the said piston stop member communicates with both sides of saidpiston stop member; and which comprises a rotatable valve selectivelypositionable in said passage to pass fluid to one side only of said stopmember.

16. A door closer comprising a body portion, a clocktype springsupported thereon, a closer arm pivotally supported on said bodyportion, means associated with said spring and closer arms which permitsthe spring to be wound from its outer or inner end by rotation of saidarm in one or in the other direction, respectively, said meanscomprising winding catches fixed, respectively, to each of the two endsof said spring, a first winding member rigidly connected with saidcloser arm and adapted to engage one side of one of said catches whensaid arm is rotated in a first direction, a second winding memberrigidly connected to said closer arm and adapted to engage one side ofthe other of said catches when said arm is rotated in said otherdirection, retaining means fixed to each of the two ends of said spring,stop members fixed to the body portion of said closer and positioned toengage, respectively, oppositely facing sides of the respectiveretaining means, said winding catches being positioned adjacent one edgeof said spring and said retaining means adjacent the opposite edgethereof whereby the free end of the said spring will be held againstmovement when the spring is wound from its other end by movement of saidcloser arm in either the one or the other direction.

17. A door closer as claimed in claim 16 which comprises means foradjusting the initial tension of said spring, said means comprising anadjusting ring encircling said body portion and rotatably supportedthereon immediately adjacent one of said retaining means, one of saidstop members being fixed to said ring and positioned to engage saidretaining means when said ring is rotated,

removable locking means engaging said ring and said body portion to holdthe stop member fixed to said ring and the retaining means engaged bysaid stop member in a selected initial position.

18. A door closer as claimed in claim 16 which cornprises means foradjusting the initial tension or" said spring, said means comprising anarcuate member movably supported on said body portion immediatelyadjacent one of said retaining means, one of said stop members beingfixed to said arcuate member and positioned to engage said one retainingmeans, when said arcuate member is moved in one direction on said bodyportion, removable locking means engaging said arcuate member and saidbody portion to lock the said stop member and the retaiuing meansengaged thereby in a selected initial position, whereby a selectedinitial tension may be applied to said spring.

19. A door closer comprising a closer body, a rotatable shaft journaledcentrally in said body, a closer arm, a universal acting clock-typespring mechanism, means connecting the spring of said mechanism to saidcloser arm to transmit movement of said arm to said spring to load thespring, said mechanism comprising said spring disposed around saidshaft, an inner annuiar spring casing disposed within the spring andaround said shaft, the inner end of said spring being affixed thereto,an outer annuiar sp g casing disposed around the said spring, the outerend of said spring eing affixed thereto, two winding catches fixed tosaid outer casing at different distances from said shaft, a firstwinding member rigidly connected with said arm, said member havingradially extending arms of different lengths adapted and positioned toengage one side of the respective said winding catcl es disposed atdifferent distances from said shaft. two winding catches fixed to theinner surface of said annular inner casing at different distances alongthe axis thereof, an annular winding member having radially extendingprotrusions at different distances along its axis each positioned toengage one side of the respective winding catches disposed at differentdistances along the axis of said inner casing.

20. A door closer comprising a closer body, a rotata lc shaft journaledcentrally in said body, a closer arm, a universal acting clock-typespring mechanism, means connecting the spring of said mechanism to saidcloser arm to transmit movement of said arm to said spring to wind thespring, said mechanism comprising said spring disposed around saidshaft, an inner annular spring casing disposed within the spring andaround said shaft, the inner end of said spring being afiixed thereto,an outer annular spring casing disposed around the said spring, theouter end of said spring being afiixed thereto, two diametricallydisposed winding catches fixed to said outer casing at differentdistances from said shaft, a first winding member rigidly connected withsaid arm, said member having radially extending arms of differentlengths adapted and positioned to engage one side of the rcspective saidwinding catches disposed at different distances from said shaft, twodiametrically disposed winding catches fixed to the inner surface ofsaid annular inner casing at different distances along the axis thereof,an annular winding member having radially extendin protrusions atdifierent distances along its axis each positioned to engage one side ofthe respective winding catches disposed at dilierent distances along theaxis of said inner casing, retaining means fixed to each of the two endsof said spring, stop members fixed to the body portion of said closerand positioned to engage, respectively, oppositely facing sides of therespective retaining means, whereby the free end of the said spring willbe held against movement when the spring is wound from its other end bymovement of said closer arm in either the one or the other direction.

21. A door closer as claimed in claim 2-) which comprises means foradjusting the initial tension of said spring, said means comprising anadjusting ring encircling said body portion and rotatably supportedthereon immedi ately adjacent one of said retaining means, one of saidstop members being fixed to said ring and positioned to engage saidretaining means when said ring is rotated, removable locking meansengaging said ring and said body portion to hold the stop member fixedto said ring and the retaining means engaged by said stop member in aselected initial position.

22. A door closer as claimed in claim 20 which comprises means foradjusting the initial tension of said spring, said means comprising anarcuate member movably supported on said body portion immediatelyadjacent one of said retaining means, one of said stop members beingfixed to said arcuate member and positioned to engage said one retainingmeans when said arcuate member is moved in one direction on said bodyportion, removable locking means engaging said arcuate member and saidbody portion to lock the said stop member and the retaining meansengaged thereby in a selected initial position, whereby a selectedinitial tension may be applied to said spring.

23. A door closer arm linkage comprising a lever pivotally supported onthe closer, and a second lever connected at one end to the free end ofsaid first lever and adapted to be fixed to a door or door casing at itsother end, one section in the length of said second lever consisting ofa coil spring fixed at each end to the adjacent section of said secondlever, the adjacent coils thereof being normally spaced apart, wherebysaid coil spring permits the outer end of said second lever to pivot andbe displaced relative to the fixed end thereof, and absorbs shockstransmitted to the linkage.

24. A door closer arm assembly adapted for a universal radial pistontype door closer comprising a disc member supported on one end of arotatable shaft to which said piston is affixed, a closer arm having ahub portion provided with a central aperture adapted to receive saiddisc in close engagement, said hub portion being provided with twospaced stop members, a lug onsaid disc arranged to engage said stopmember to limit the relative rotary movement between said disc and hubportion, and to transmit rotary movement imparted to said hub portion tosaid disc member, a pressure displaceabie spring pressed locking memberpositioned in a radially extending aperture in said disc member tonormally protrude from the periphery of said disc into one of twodepressions provided in the closely engaged face of said hub portion,said depressions being positioned respectively to align with saidlocking member when said lug bears against one or the other of said stopmembers.

25. A door closer embodying a spring member, a by draulic mechanism forregulating the rate at which energy stored in the spring member isapplied to close a door with which the closer is associated, a fluidpressure chamber, a radial piston rotatably supported within the saidchamber, a piston stop member positioned within said chamber in operableassociation with said piston, said stop member having a cambered faceengaging said piston, means interconnecting the said piston with thesaid spring member to cause rotary movement of said piston as saidspring is loaded by opening movement of the associated door or as thespring unloads to close the associated door, said stop member beingprovided with fluid passages from either side thereof to an intermediateaperture therein, a fluid passage extending from said cambered face of'said stop member to said aperture, a fluid passage extending from oneside to the other side of said piston, a fluid flow adjusting valve insaid passage in said piston and governing the general speed of closing,a slot in the face of said piston which engages said cambered facepositioned to register with the fluid passage extending from the face ofsaid piston which engages said cambered face to control the latch-boltspeed of c1osing,.a rotary check valve positioned within-the saidaperture, and means for rotating said valve within the aperture toselectively arrange said valve to pass fluid freely from the highpressure side to low pressure side of piston as the piston is caused torotate by the spring loading movement of the associated door, and toblock the flow of fluid from the high pressure side to low pressure sideof piston as the piston is caused to rotate in the opposite direction byunloading of the spring, when said spring is loaded selectively fromeither one of two directions.

26. A door closer of the type which includes a hydraulic mechanism forregulating the rate at which energy stored in a spring member associatedwith the closer is released, said closer comprising a closer armassembly, a fluid pressure chamber, a radial piston rotatably supportedwithin said chamber, a rotatable shaft connecting said piston with saidcloser arm assembly, a piston stop member within said chamber, valvemeans associated with said stop member for reversing the direction ofhydraulic resistance to the said piston during its rotary movementbetween the limits defined by said stop member, said closer arm assemblycomprising a disc member secured to said rotatable shaft, a hub portionon said arm having a central aperture adapted to receive said disc inclose engagement, said hub portion being provided with two spaced stopmembers, a lug on said disc arranged to engage said stop members tolimit the relative rotary movement between said disc and said hubportion and to transmit rotary movement imparted to the hub portion tosaid disc member, a pressure displaceable spring pressed locking memberpositioned in a radially extending aperture provided in said disc memberto normally protrude from the periphery of said disc into one of twodepressions provided in the closely engaged face of said hub portion,said depressions being positioned, respectively, to align with saidlocking member when said lug bears against one or the other of said stopmembers, whereby the initial position of said piston with respect to thesaid piston stop member and the position of said arm with respect to thesaid piston may be changed to correspond with a reversed setting of saidvalve to reverse the hand of the closer by causing said closer arm lugto rotate from contact with one of said stop members into contact withthe other of said stop members.

27. A door closer arm assembly adapted for a universal radial pistontype door closer comprising a friction member supported on one end of arotatable shaft to which said piston is aflixed, a closer arm having ahub portion provided with a central aperture adapted to receive saidshaft, said hub portion being provided with two spaced stop members, alug on said shaft arranged to engage said stop members to limit therelative rotary movement be tween said shaft and hub portion, saidfriction member being arranged to displaceably engage said hub portion.

28. A door closer as claimed in claim 20 which comprises means foradjusting the initial tension of said spring, said means comprising anadjusting ring encircling said body portion and rotatably supportedthereon immediately adjacent one of said retaining means, one of saidstop members being fixed to said ring and positioned to engage saidretaining means when said ring is rotated, removable locking meansengaging said ring and said body portion to hold the stop member fixedto said ring and the retaining means engaged by said stop memher in aselected initial position, and means removably engaging one of saidwinding members and said closer arrn whereby the winding member may berepositioned with respect to the winding catch enga ed thereby withoutrepositioning said closer arm.

29. A door closer as claimed in claim 28 in which said means removablyengaging one of said winding members and said closer arm is freelysupported on said rotatable shaft and exposed to permit further externaladjustments of said spring whenthe said closer is fully assembled.

30. A door closer as claimed in claim 20 which comprises means foradjusting the initial tension of said spring, said means comprising anarcuate member movably supported on said body portion immediatelyadjacent one of said retaining means, one of said stop mem bers beingfixed to said arcuate member and positioned to engage said one retainingmeans when said arcuate member is moved in one direction on said bodyportion, removable locking means engaging said arcuate member and saidbody portion to lock the said stop member and the retaining meansengaged thereby in a selected initial position, whereby a selectedinitial tension may be applied to said spring, and means removablyengaging one of said winding members and said closer arm whereby thewinding member may be repositioned with respect to the winding catchengaged thereby without repositioning said closer arm.

31. A door closer as claimed in claim 30 in which said means removablyengaging one of said winding members and said closer arm is freelysupported on said rotatable shaft and exposed to permit further externaladjustments of said spring when the said closer is fully assembled.

32. A door check and closer comprising a hydraulic check mechanism, acoil spring, means operatively eonnecting said hydraulic check mechanismand said coil spring, said means including a rotatable piston shaftextending from said check mechanism, said coil spring encircling saidshaft and being substantially coaxial there with, and means located atthe edge of said coil spring remote from said check mechanism forwinding said coil spring, selectively, from its inner or outer end whileretaining the other end stationary, said last named means comprising twowinding members supported on said shaft and fixed to rotate therewith,an abutment at each end of said spring, one of said winding membersbeing positioned to act upon and move one of said spring abutments whensaid shaft is rotated in one direction, and the other said windingmembers being positioned to act upon and move said other abutment whensaid shaft is rotated in the other direction.

33. A door check and closer comprising a hydraulic check mechanism, acoil spring, means operatively connecting said hydraulic check mechanismand said coil spring, said means including a rotatable piston shaftextending from said check mechanism, said coil spring encircling saidshaft and being substantially coaxial therewith, and means located atthe edge of said coil spring remote from said check mechanism forwinding said coil spring, selectively, from its inner or outer end whileretaining the other end stationary, said last named means comprising awinding member supported on said shaft and fixed to rotate therewith, aset of spring abutmcnts fixed to one end of said spring and offset fromone another longitudinally of said shaft, a set of spring abutmentsfixed to the other end of said spring and otfset radially of said shaft,said winding member being arranged and positioned to act upon and moveone set of abutments when said shaft is rotated in one direction and toact upon and move the other set of abutments when said shaft is rotatedin the other direction.

34. A door closer embodying a spring member, a hydraulic check mechanismfor regulating the rate at which energy stored in the spring member isapplied to close a door with which the closer is associated, a fluidchamber, a radial piston rotatably supported within the said fluidchamber, a piston stop member positioned within the said chamber inoperative association with said piston, means interconnecting the saidpiston with the said spring member to cause rotary movement of saidpiston as the spring is loaded by opening movement of the associateddoor or as the spring unloads to close the associated door, a passageprovided in said piston from one side to the other thereof, a generalspeed control valve positioned in said passage to regulate the flow offluids therethrough, a separate latch-bolt speed control mechanismcomprising a slot provided in the face of said piston and a port in saidstop member positioned to register with said slot when the pistonapproaches a limit of 24 its movement, said port communicating with thelow pressure side of said piston.

35. A door closer arm linkage comprising a lever pivotally supported onthe closer, and a second lever connected at one end to the free end ofsaid first lever and adapted to be fitted to a door or door casing atits other end, one section in the length of said second lever consistingof a coil spring, a second section of said second lever being providedwith threads at its one end and joined with said coil spring section bythreaded engagement between the threaded portion thereof and the innersurface of said coil spring, the adjacent coils of said spring beingnormally spaced apart, whereby said coil spring permits the outer end ofsaid second lever to pivot and be displaced relative to the fixed endthereof, and absorbs shocks transmitted to the linkage.

36. A door closer comprising a body portion, a clocl type springsupported thereon, a closer arm pivotally supported on said bodyportion, means associated with said spring and closer arms which permitsthe spring to be wound from its outer or inner end by rotation of saidarm in one or in the other direction, respectively, said meanscomprising winding catches fixed, respectively, to each of the two endsof said spring, a first winding member rigidly connected with saidcloser arm and adapted to engage one side of one of said catches whensaid arm is rotated in a first direction, a second winding memberrigidly connected to said closer arm and adapted to engage one side ofthe other of said catches when said arm is rotated in said otherdirection, retaining means fixed to each of the two ends of said spring,stop mem bers fixed to the body portion of said closer and positioned toengage, respectively, oppositely facing sides of the respectiveretaining means, said winding catches being positioned adjacent one edgeof said spring and said retaining means adjacent the opposite edgethereof, whereby the free end of the said spring will be held againstmovement when the spring is wound from its other end by movement of saidcloser arm in either the one or the other direction, and a radial pistontype hydraulic checking mechanism, the piston member of said last namedmechanism being connected operatively with said closer arm.

37. A door closer arm linkage comprising a lever pivotally supported onthe closer, and a second lever connected at one end to the free end ofsaid first lever and adapted to be fixed to a door or door casing at itsother end, one section in the length of said second lever consisting ofa coil spring, the adjacent coils thereof being normally spaced apart.whereby said coil spring permits the outer end of said second lever topivot and be displaced relative to the fixed end thereof and absorbsshocks transmitted to the linkage, a second section of said second leverconsisting of a flexible element located towards the said one endthereof, and said coil spring section being located towards the saidother end of said second lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

